Sydney Monitor, Cann vs Gaffney report (27 Jan 1829)

ON Monday, the great wrestling match was decided between Cann, the celebrated Devonshire wrestler, and Gaffney, who has been put forward as the Champion of Ireland. There had been some difficulty in bringing these competitors together, Cann resolving to adhere to the Devonshire style of wrestling for only fair back-throws, whilst Gaffney was desirous of contending in the Irish style, for side and every other

description of fall. At length the difficulty was conquered, and Gaffney was flattered by the confidence of his countrymen into a resolution, of meeting the Champion of the West of England, in a manly contest, in which there should be no shuffling, nothing being reckoned fair, but clean back-falls, in which the prostrate person should be thrown on his back with out touching the ground in his fall. In this species of wrestling, the odds were in favour of Cann whose scientific caution and resources, gave him a greater advantage over his stronger and more impetuous adversary. Had side-falls been counted, the bets would have been equal, if not in favour of the Irish

champion. Cann is about five feet nine, and weighs rather more than twelve stone. There is nothing striking in his figure. He is a square, well set man of good proportions; full chested, thick in the loins, and is the sporting phrase, stands well upon his legs, condensed muscular power, in which every part is well proportioned for the general expression, no limb or set of muscles being too large or out of character with the whole figure. These are the genuine features of the forms observable in the English Athlete and hence it is, that the English boxers and wrestlers generally appear, when stripped, large and powerful beyond what was expected of them, by those who had only seen them in their clothes – in the sporting phrase, they peel well. It is very different with the Irish. They generally look larger and heavier, as well as stronger, than they are, from their figures presenting more angles, and from certain sets of muscles being expressed out of proportion to their whole frame; The truth of this observation was illuminated in the figures of Cann and Gaffney-the first forming a compact whole, in which no parts were disproportionately prominent; whilst in the latter, the shape of all the primary muscles was distinctly observable. Gaffney is taller, and, we believe, a few pounds heavier, than his, adversary. He looked in every respect a more powerful man until he stripped, when the condensed and rigid frame of his adversary appeared to great advantage. The deportment of Cann is grave and reserved; his face is long and pale, his eyes expressive of calm thought and firm resolution. Gaffney’s is completely the Irish countenance, and he has the jaunty er pot sheen air—his tripping and springing gait was a contrast with the firm and steady step of the Devonshire peasant. The match was decided at the Golden Eagle, in the Mile-end road, and for 110 guineas, Cann laying down sixty to Gaffney’s fifty.

The terms of the agreement were— “the first three fair back falls out of five to decide the match.” The concourse of spectators was great. The ring, which was very large, was surrounded by qundruple rows of persons, amongst whom we recognised great numbers of sporting characters. The crowd at length became excessive. The roofs of the long line of boxes or sheds, which surround the green, were filled with spectators; and about two hundred, who could get no better accommodation, climbed the poplars to witness the contest. At four, Cann threw his hat in the ring; and shortly after, whilst expectation was on the stretch for the appearance of Gaffney, a tremendous crash was heard; in fact, a large portion of the tiled roofs of the boxes gave way, and precipitated some hundreds of persons to the ground.  As soon as it was ascertained that the fallen persons had nothing to be wail but dirty faces, crushed hats, and light bruises, shouts of laughter were uttered at their dismal and frightened appearance.

Gaffney did not enter the ring in time, and was called for with some dissatisfaction, mingled with Anti-Irish exclamations, that gave great umbrage to the numerous

Hibernians that had come to witness the triumph of their countryman. At length the hero appeared, and leaping into the ring, threw up his hat with gaity and spirit. The men stripped at a little before five and put on flannel jackets; as some difficulty arose about Cann’s wearing canvass trowsers (sic), this was avoided by his tucking them up above his knees. He wore moderately thick walking shoes whilst Gaffney was dressed in breeches, worsted stockings, and laced htch-tows with thick soles. A length the two champions shook hands and grappled, and the attention of the immense crowd was intense. Cann was extremely quick in getting his hold, and his adversary’s left hand was over his shoulder grasping his loose jacket, while his right was more firmly fixed on the waist-band. Gaffney immediately he had got his hold, set to work and acted as much as possble on the offensive; whilst Cann remained almost fixed to the earth, his face expressing great caution, and as great confidence and self-possession. Gaffney’s countenance exhibited more the marks of anxiety, and resignation to anticipated defeat. Gaffney kicked very much at the shins of Cann but they exhibited no signs of punishiment, though the sound resounded through the ring; after Cann, had inflicted a few retorts on the shins of Gaffney, his worsted stockings were sopped with bIood, and his laced shoe of the left foot seemed saturated like that of a slaughterer from the shambles.

After a contest of four minutes and fifty seconds, Cann gave his adversary a fair back-falI. This was a beautiful throw given in the best possible style. The backers of Gaffney seemed very cautious of taking any bets; though heavy odds were offered, none were taken, except to edge off the former odds. The men at length grappled for the second throw. Gaffney stood wide and front to his man, whilst Cann presented his side, allowing his adversary’s left leg to get behind. After striving for the lock, Cann was thrown a side fall.

The third struggle was much the same as in the preceding, and Gaffney getting his left leg behind Cann’s right, lifted him from the earth. Cann immediately threw his body into an upright position of immoreable rigidity, and with the utmost rapidity, disentangled his left leg, and fell upon his face, bringing his adversary to the ground with him. It was now evident that Gaffney had not the slight chance of success; all betting was at an end. Cann’s science was so admirable, and his presence-of mind so perfect, that if he could give the fall, he reduced it to a certainty that, in being thrown, he could not always save himself from coming down upon his back. This round had lasted only minutes; Gaffney was out of wind, and though inspirated by O’Neil he exhibited no marks of confidence to encourage his supporters. And a short interval the men again shook hands and set to, but in one minute and forty seconds Cann caught his man on the shin and threw him a fair back-fall in beautiful style. Gaffney’s legs seemed distressed; the blood flowed into his shoes through his worsted stockings, and contrast of blood upon black leather had a gory appearance peculiarly disgusting. Cann’s leggs (sic) appeared almost unhurt, the blood on his stockings being that of his adversary.

In the next struggle Cann threw his man on his back, but his side touched the ground first, and he succeeded in bringing his conqueror down with him. This was decided not to be fair fall; but the decision was unnecessary, for Gaffney was obliged to give in, his left shoulder being dislocated, or pulled out of the socket; a medical person attended him into the room, and advised his being taken to the London Hospital. Cann was, of course, the victor; to the great triumph of the sporting men from the West of England.